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Chinese Anise Tree Illicium henryi

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
il-LISS-ee-um HEN-re-eye
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Henry Anise Tree is a flowering evergreen shrub, native to China, in the Schisandraceae family. It is found on cliffs and scrub brush habitat.  It grows to 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide with a dense pyramidal to rounded shape. Pink to red waxy blooms with up to 20 petals occurs in spring. The leaves have an anise aroma when crushed.

Henry Anise Tree grows best in moist, high organic, well-drained, acidic soil in partial to full shade. It will tolerate full sun with care.  You can use the plant as a specimen, as a hedge for privacy, for winter interest, or in small groups. Only the seed pods of Illicium verum (Chinese Star Anise) are recognized for culinary use in teas and as a spice. All other species have a variety of toxic characteristics in leaves, stems, and/or seed pods.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. However, keep a watch for the presence of whiteflies.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

More information on Illicium.

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See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#fragrant leaves#shade garden#deer resistant#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant#wet soils intolerant#hedge#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#fragrant leaves#shade garden#deer resistant#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant#wet soils intolerant#hedge#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Illicium
    Species:
    henryi
    Family:
    Schisandraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and South China
    Wildlife Value:
    Deer and rabbit tolerant
    Play Value:
    Screening
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer damage
    Edibility:
    All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Follicle
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Brown, star-shaped seed pods in fall
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    1 to 1 1/2 inch waxy pink to deep crimson flowers in spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Rubbery
    Smooth
    Waxy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, simple, leathery, lustrous, dark green leaves; 4 to 5 inches long; fragrant when bruised. Paler undersides.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Rabbits
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Sesquiterpene lactones
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Leaves
    Seeds